OTTUMWA —
The summer drought has one last nasty surprise for farmers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Experts have been saying for months that the hot, dry weather this summer would have a very negative effect on the size of the corn crop. The USDA says farmers are getting into the fields to harvest the crop, but are finding fields whose stalks are weaker or wind damaged. That makes it harder to harvest.
And dry conditions persist. Iowa topsoil rates 48 percent very short and 36 percent short. That means over four-fifths of all topsoil in Iowa has less moisture than it needs. Subsoil moisture is worse, at 63 percent very short, though the USDA says it improved slightly in the past week.
Those ratings come after many areas saw rain last week, according to State Climatologist Harry Hillaker.
"Rain totals for the week as a whole were near to above average across the northeast one-half of Iowa while the southwest one-third of the state saw little if any rain," Hillaker said, though the statewide average of 0.81 inches was slightly below normal
Soybeans are in better shape than corn. Sixty-two percent of the soybean crop is rated fair or better. Some farmers have begun harvesting soybeans.
If there is a bright spot, it seems to be in hay. The USDA reports some farmers have been able to get four or five cuttings of alfalfa this year.
CNHI/Southeast Iowa
Corn harvest faces new challenge
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